The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded over $6 million to individuals in San Diego as a result of the wildfires. Today FEMA held a meeting in San Diego for local government agencies that incurred costs fighting the fires. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

John Waters has been called the master of trash and an icon of independent cinema. He has made films, put out two compilation albums of his favorite music and shown his artwork in galleries around the world. His film Hairspray was made into a Tony Award winning Broadway musical and now the La Jolla Playhouse is staging a musical version of his film Cry-Baby.

What is the Farm Bill and why should you care about it, even if you aren't a farmer? We speak to author Daniel Imhoff about the $288 billion bill that's being discussed in the U.S. Senate this week. We will discuss how the Farm Bill is currently structured, as well as the changes that have been proposed to reduce the amount of subsidies that are given to growers of commodity crops such as corn, cotton, wheat, soybeans and rice.

The director of California's high-speed rail board on Wednesday defended his recommendation of the Pacheco Pass as the primary route for bullet trains to the San Francisco Bay area, saying it was more efficient and environmentally sound.

Teachers and school administrators tackled the issue of racism in California's education system on the last day of the state's Achievement Gap Summit yesterday. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis reports from Sacramento.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has the first statewide estimate of crop damage from last month's wildfires: $47.5 million, with most of the damage in San Diego County. As KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps tells us, that number will only grow higher.

Thousands of people living in San Diego are losing their homes because they cant afford to make their mortgage payment. Many more are months behind on their payments. Chances are if its not you, its probably one of your neighbors. KPBS reporter Joanne Faryon has more.